Q Mr. President, the Chinese arrested a couple of dissidents, one
apparently for intending to do an interview with an American journalist.
I wonder does such action make it more difficult for you to make the
case to the American people that your policy of engagement is improving
the lot of the Chinese people, is improving the human rights situation.

THE PRESIDENT: No. I found the reports disturbing, and I've asked
Ambassador Sasser to raise it with the Chinese authorities. And, if
true, they represent not China at its best and not China looking
forward, but looking backward.

One of the reasons that I came here was to discuss both privately and
publicly issues of personal freedom. So I think it's very important for
me to do that. But I think it makes the case, it makes it all the more
important that we continue to work with the Chinese and to engage them.

Q There have been some suggestions that you're going to sort of accept
the Chinese insistence, that during the press conference you're going to
sort of declare the United States decision not supporting Taiwan
independence, not supporting Taiwan's bid for the United Nations, and
not supporting one China-one Taiwan, but two Chinas. Is it going to
happen?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, you should come to the press
conference to see what happens. But our position with regard to Taiwan
is embodied in the three communiques and in the Taiwan Relations Act and
in the facts of our relationship over the years. So I think it's
obvious that there will be no change in our position one way or the
other on this trip.

Q Mr. President, on a domestic matter, Mr. President, are you
happy with the Susan McDougal -- Mr. President, are you happy for Susan
McDougal? Do you feel --

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm concerned about her health and I hope
that she gets better now. I think it's a -- I hope that it puts her in
a position where she can get over her pain and her difficulty.

Q Sir, the line item veto, sir, was struck down. What do you
think about that?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm disappointed. I think that having it has made
it much easier to control spending and I think that -- and control
special interest tax breaks. And so I hope very much that Congress will
not use this decision to move away from the path of fiscal discipline
that we have followed the last five years that has gotten us to our
present state of economic prosperity. I think it would be a mistake.

Thank you.

Q Would you support a constitutional amendment to create a line
item veto?